Course Descriptions
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Taking Off In Travel
This course provides an overview of the basics of the travel industry and career opportunities available. Enjoy a fun, realistic presentation of: air travel, car rentals, hotel accommodations, rail travel, tours, and cruises. Group travel, incentive travel, meetings and conventions, in-bound tourism, international travel and niche travel are also discussed. There will be opportunities for learning activities as well as exercises and thought-provoking case studies to aid in applying the principles presented.
Travel Sales and Trends
Enjoy expected as well as surprising sales techniques and new approaches as you explore and practice them. Included you will find telephone business manners, listening skills, and tools for targeting the traveler. Discover successful sales steps for telephone reservations agents as well as for the travel professional working with clients one on one. Trends in the industry include the use of the Web for a variety of travel resources as well as current information on possible careers in the industry. This is an excellent introduction to the program.
The Cruise Market
Earn great commissions by booking cruises, one of the fastest growing segments of the travel industry. Learn the basics of the cruise product, cruise classifications, destinations, types of cruises, print resources and non-automated reservations procedures. Identify your clients' needs and preferences, learn the variables that are available in cruising and select and book the right cruise for any given client.
Developing Specialty Vacation Packages - Specialist Course
This specialist course will help you, the travel professional, in putting together the components of a sellable niche market vacation package. Think about the possibilities when you can provide your clients with a specially developed product that will help them live out their dreams and restore their mind, body and spirit. Think about how much fun designing a vacation package can be, especially when you have a passion for the destination. This course will provide you with the information and tools you need to grow your business as you develop your own vacation packages.
Selling Vacation Packages and Tours
Earn great commissions by booking vacation packages and tours, one of the fastest growing segments of the travel industry. Learn the basics of the tour product, components of tours, tour destinations, types of vacation packages and tours, print and electronic resources and non-automated tour booking procedures. Understand the function of tour operators and wholesalers. Identify your clients' needs and preferences, and book the right vacation package for any given client.
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ASTA Courses
Family Travel Specialist
by Sue Wilder, CTC |
The family travel market is growing and diversifying. This course takes a focused look at the different types of families, their buying patterns and how their needs evolve as they progress through the family life cycle. Topics include:
- Defining the family travel marketplace
- Addressing the unique needs of various types of families
- Planning the family vacation: do's & don'ts
- Identifying family-oriented operators and destinations
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Niche Travel Specialist
by Robin Fetsch, CTC |
This course examines a wide variety of special interest groups. Topics include how to conduct local research and positioning, as well as promoting and selling special interest travel. More than 100 areas of specialization are discussed including:
- Ecotourism
- Wine/Gourmet
- Historical/Cultural
- Disabled
- Scuba Diving
- Spa/Fitness
- Dude Ranch
- Spiritual/Religious
- Sports
- Gay & Lesbian
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Mature Adult Travel Specialist
Talula Guntner, CTC, MCC |
Every eight seconds someone in the United States turns 50. Mature adults (50+ years old) control 50% of discretionary spending. That's what makes this such a lucrative, growing niche. Course topics include:
- Expectations, demands and travel trends of mature adults
- Travel patterns and expenditures
- The different buying patterns of the senior citizen (65+) and baby boomer (50-64) markets
- "Hot" Buttons for upscale mature adults
- Unique marketing and sales strategies
- Companies sensitive to mature adult needs
- Health and the mature traveler
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| North American Rail Travel Specialist |
Planning travel by rail - whether in the United States on Amtrak or the American Orient Express or in Canada on Via Rail - is a challenging task, even for an experienced travel agent. Thus, by becming a rail specialist and marketing to specific niches (or groups) within the marketplace, you, with extensive knowledge and experience in rail travel, will have carved a unique position for yourself in the travel industry, one of the surest ways today of maintaining profitability. Learn the tricks of schedules, accomodations, route guides, travelogues, example of costs, helpful hints, book suggestions, tipping and other onboard customs, as well as online rail travel web resources, vacation packages, luxury or first class services, and specialty trains. Topics include:
- Defining the rail travel marketplace
- Planning the rail vacation
- Niche marketing and sales techniques
- How to plan and package rail travel
- Indentifying operators and destinations
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| Travel Marketing Specialist |
Essential information on how to market your business, including the importance of niche marketing in today's environment. Topics include:
- Fundamentals of niche marketing
- Understanding demographics
- Trend analysis
- Successful marketing techniques
- Evaluating your agency
- Creating a marketing plan
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How Do I Begin?
It is easy to begin. Simply go to Registration and select the course(s) you would like to take.
Once registered you will be taken to Orientation.
Follow the instructions and prompts. |
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